THE WALL OF FACES

SSG James F. Barnes was a Special Forces-qualified Infantry Operations and Intelligence Specialist serving with Detachment A-352 (Hiep Hoa), 5th Special Forces Group, in Hau Nghia Province, RVN. His team arrived in Vietnam in in April 1966, and to the Hiep Hoa area in May to establish a Special Forces (SF) camp. A previous outpost had been overrun in November 1963 with four U.S. SF soldiers captured. There had not been a permanent U.S. presence since that time, and the Viet Cong were a strong presence in the area. Barnes participated in numerous combat patrols from late May until October where frequent contact with the enemy occurred. Being the intelligence sergeant of his team, Barnes also spent time coordinating and sharing information on the enemy with other SF teams and the 25th Infantry Division S2 intelligence staff officers at Chu Chi Base Camp. Sometime in October, he began suffering severe headaches. Barnes remarked he thought it was from not having eyeglasses. He was seen at the U.S. Army 8th Field Hospital in Nha Trang where during an examination a brain tumor was found. He never returned to his team. Barnes was medically evacuated to a U.S. medical facility in Japan where the Army maintained a neurosurgical unit. He expired while receiving treatment there on November 6, 1966. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Laramie Soldier Dies in Japan.” The Laramie Daily Boomerang, November 8, 1966, courtesy of Albany County Public Library, Albany County, WY; and information provided by George Stockton (February 2022)]

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Staff Sergeant James Frederick Barnes, Served with Detachment A-352 (Hiep Hoa), 5th Special Forces Group, United States Army Vietnam.

DEAR STAFF SERGEANT BARNES,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A SPECIAL FORCES QUALIFIED INFANTRY OPERATIONS & INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST. WHEN I RESEARCHED YOUR INFORMATION, I SAW IT WAS YOUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN HEAVEN. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOU. THANKSGIVING DAY IS APPROACHING, AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE SAINTS AND ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE....

Dear SSGT James Frederick Barnes, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter